Centrifugal guided speed responsive device with spring support



July 15, 1952 w. H. HARsTlcK CENTRIF'UGAL GUIDED SPEED RESPONSIVE DEVICE WITH SPRING SUPPORT Filed Sept. 8. 1948 0 W W fr M 5 i; d \m 47 Him` 7 6 .f// j, I aw/Wu@ i 1 MQ.. I j mr- 93%@ 0\ 5 in mw I Patented July 15, 1952 Williamr H. Harstiek, ak Park, i111., assignor to International- Harvester Company, aporporationV of New J ersey Application vSeptember 8, 1948,-Serial No. 481,241 5 Claims.' (C1. 264-17) f Ihis invention relates to a governor .and more particularly to a -governor adapted to actuate a switch controlling. the supply of electrical`y energy to ahigh-.speed electric motor. The uses and limitations =of high-speed electric motorsare well known to those skilled in the art. High-,Speed serieswound motors are utilized in many appliances and mechanisms wheremaxmum speeds of rotationare desirable. This isespecially true. in the manufacture of cream separators vwhere the 'separating bowl is generally rotated-around 10,000'R. P. M. A high-speed electric motorniay.thusbedirectly connected to the separating bowl in order` to maintain. the high speed of rotation that the separating .operation requires. In order to .secure proper separation it is required that the rotation of the bowl be maintained at a constant speed with a minimum of variations. In various other appliances where high-speed electric motors areutilized it isv likewise desirable to keep speed variations at a minimum. In order to accomplish this desirable feature, Various types of fluid.andmechanical governors have, been utilized. .Many of "thesetypes of governors have not proven satisfactory since they have been subject to inherent diiliculties both from a service. .andan operating standpoint.

Fluid governors have been found especially `susceptible to atmospheric changesfthus .creating a speedvariation in addition tothe variations, in-

herently vfound in thelligh-speed electric motor. f

Changes in Aline vcltagemay cause' changes in speed of 'the rotation oi the motor. Likewise, ex-

cessive wear sucliasis occasioned by the pitting of the commutatorjbars due to sparking is a l'cause for unequal operation. Aside from these possible variations in the speed of4 rotation there are also, oiV course, the load' variations which may cause unequal' operation This is especially truein a l mechanism suchv as a cream separator where the amount-of whole milk to be Yseparated mayy have different densities and where changes inthe quantity''bring` about diierent load characteristicsi `It is applicantsprimefobject therefore, Y

lto'provide a novel improvement in mechanical governors ofa type utilized for controllingl and lgoverning ahigh-speed electric motor.

V r-l-tis another object to provide a mechanical 'governor adaptedto control the speed of an electric motor, said governor having operating characteristics enabling the electric'motor to be operated at a desirable constanty speed despite inherent variations and'changes in the load characteristics.

Another object is lto'l'arovide an improved speed governor adapted to controlan electric "motor, the governor containingA ami-nimum oij'parts, thereby greatly minimizing 'the friction within'the governor. Another obj-ect isto providean improved Vmechanical speed governorthat may operate over long periods of timewithout rservilceand which need not be lubricated. 1 A still further object is vto providefan improved mechanical speed governor for a high-'speed electric--motor,'said governor including a rotatable casing having -a pair of governorv weightsthl which are adapted to be guided and moved oute wardly and inwardly on a pairof radially extendingtracks for reciprocating aplunger whichlis adapted to actuate ja switch. These and other objects will become more clearly apparent upon reading the speciicfation when examined 'in co'nnection with the drawing. ,In thedrawing: j j Fig. 1 is asectional view throughza speed" governorshowing the .embodiments of the invention.

Fig- 2 is a sectional view of a governortalen along. the line 2-2 of Fig. `1

laterally extending threadedzbo're '315. A vertical boreJB' is centrally Aiiosftionefd'and in communication with the bore 35. As shown in Fig. '4 the vertical bore 36 is adapted to telescopingly corrian electric motor (not"shown) A setscre'wl may be'tightened in the lateral boret'for'secur'- ing the governor 3l)I tothe lower'endi of tl'iearrr'ia'- ture shaftfia.V The base 32 isprovidedwith a downwardly extending projection 38 having a centrally disposed vertical bore 39. The projection 3 8; isthreaded on its exterior suriace and may be engaged by a cap or cover 40. f l j A tubular member 4| is rigidlysecuredV in the bore 39. The tubular member may be secured-by brazing orwelding, orthe tubular member may be integrally formed with' the base 32.y The tubular member. extends upwardly into the` casingj '3 l andA "supports, atl .its upper .end' an ammi-lari guide member 42.` The guidemlber 2fmaybeiA in the shape of a disk' and V'includesan undercut-portion 43 which snugly ts about the upper portion Y ofthe tubular member 4 I. The guide member 42 is secured to the base 32 of the governor by means of laterally spaced machine screws 44 which extend into the base 32.

A plunger or vertical contact member 45 is positioned for reciprocation within the casing 3|. The plunger 45 has (its upper end extending through an opening 46 centrally formed in they guide member 42. An opening 41 in the cap 40 is in axial alignment with the opening 46 and the lower end of the plunger 45. projects out- Wardly through this opening. 'I'he plunger '45 r .is provided with an annular collar 48 positioned within the tubular member 4|. `The collar 4,8`

isY rigidly secured to the plunger 45y and is engaged by spring 49. The spring 49 tends to urge the Vplunger 45 in an upward direction. 'I'he cap 40 :tension on the spring 49 for controlling the op- -rating speed of the governor. The upper end oftheplunger isprovided vwith a substantially flat head 50 which is adapted to reciprocate with the plunger. I A pair of slots oropenings 5|best shown in Figure 2, are formed in the guide member 42. The slots are disposed at opposite sides of the plunger 45 and extend completely through the guide member 42. Immediately adjacent the slots a pair of tracks 5.2 are formed in the underneath. surface of the guide member 42. The tracks y52 are in the formof recesses which have been cut in the under surface of the guide member42.` y.

Governor weights 53 are disposed at opposite sides of the plunger 45. The governor weights 53 are cylindrical in shape andinclude centrally disposed bores oropenings 53'." A flexible' band 56,-of spring-like material, operatively connects the governor weights 53 to the plunger 45.' The flexible band is of U-shaped character and includes a horizontal portion 51 which lies on the plunger head 50. The band 56 also includes downwardly extending leg portions 58 which extend through the slots ori openings 5|. The leg portions 58 include end portions58 which are wrapped about or partially curl andencircle the cylindrical governor weights 53. The end portions 59V extend within the tracks 52, upwardly through the slots 5| for connection to the upper surface of the guide4| by means of washers 60 and screws 6|. Y Y

During the operation of an electric motor it may be desirable to maintain a constant speed of 10,000 R. P. M. especially if the motor is utilized in connection with a cream separator or other centrifugal separating device. The governor weights 53 are readily susceptible to the centrifugalforces occasioned by the rotation of the governor casing 3|. As the motor .tends to vincrease in speed of rotation beyond 10,000 R. P. M. due to load variations, etc., the governor weights are moved laterally outwardly on the Arecessed tracks 52. The movement of the governor weights is at all times within the tracks and as the Weights are moved, radially outwardly the horizontal portion 51 of the flexible band 5671s moved downwardly, thus exerting a downward force on the plunger 45. The downward force of VVthe plunger 45 isV against the action of the spring 49, which tends to urge the plunger upwardly.v As the plunger 45 is moved downwardly it is adaptedto engage an electrical switch to break anelectrical circuit to a motor thereby causing the motor to slow up. As the may be turned and then adjusted to vary the 4 speed of the motor decreases the governor weights 53 move inwardly on the tracks 52 and the spring 49 pushes the plunger 45 upwardly, whereupon a switch may again be closed to provide current to the motor for again speeding up the motor. The speed of the motor can thus be kept relatively constant. l

`In view of the novel designapplicants lgovernor is capable of maintaining the speed of rotation of the motor constant within 1% of the speed of rotation. The governor weights 53 are arranged to rotate within the circling or curled end portions 59 of the flexible band 51. The inward and outward movement of the governor weights is within the recessed tracks 52 and thus the governor weights cannot be laterally displaced despitethe high speed of rotation of the governor. The governor casing 3| is constantly rotating with the armature shaft 36. An ever increasing speed of the electric motor will immediately cause movement of the governor weights until the governing action of the motor is obtained'V bythe actuation of a switch as described. l

The operation of the governor weights an he arrangement of parts is suchthat-a minimum 'of friction is inherent in the operation. Thus, a

`governor of this type needv not beplubricated nor serviced and constant positive operation is affordedby the novel arrangement of the rotating cylindrical governor weights which are movable within the recessed tracks.Y The flexible element or band 51 permits the governorweights to rotate during the inward or outward movement of the weights and any movement; of the weights is immediately effective to react against thevreciproeating plunger 45.

It can now be seen that an effective and novel governing device has been described which will readily accomplish the desirable objects of the invention. It must be understood that changes and modifications may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention nor the scope thereof as dei-ined in the appended claims.

' What is claimed is: v

1. In a speed governor having a casing adapted to be connected to the drive shaft of a high Speed electric motor.; means for controlling the speed Vof the motor comprising a plunger within rsaid urging the plunger tomove with respect to the housing, a guide member-,within the casing, said guide member having a v,pair of transversely spaced axially extending open-ings, recessed tracks formed in a surface of said guide member, said track beingdisposed on opposite sides of the plunger and extending laterally outwardly with respect thereto, a pair of cylindrical governor weights disposed within the tracks, a continuous exible bandfreely engaging the upper end of said p1unger,. saidV band extending through the openings and having portions substantially encircling the'governor weights, means connecting the ends of said'band tosaid guide member, said weights being arranged to roll laterally in said tracks with respect to'said plunger and inl response to varying speeds of rotation of said-.casing whereby said plunger is moved against the re- Siilent pressure of said resilient member.

2. In a speed governor having a casingadapted to be connected to the drive shaft of a highspeed electric motor; means for controlling the speed of the motor comprising aplunger within said casing, said plunger being arranged to reciprocate and having a portion extending outwardly of the casing, a resilient member for normally urging the plunger to move with respect to the housing, l

a guide member within the casing, said guide member having a pair of transversely spaced axially extending openings, recessed tracks formed yin a surface of said guide member, said tracks extending laterally with respect to said plunger, a pair of cylindrical governor weights disposed within the tracks, a flexible band engaging the upper end of said plunger, said band extending through the openings and having portions vpartially encircling the governor weights, means connecting the ends of said band to said casing, said weights being arranged to move laterally in said tracks with respect to the plunger and in response to varying speeds of rotation of said casing whereby said plunger is moved against the resilient pressure of said resilient member. v

3. In a speed governor having a cylindrical recesses being in lateral alignment and extending laterally with respect to the plunger to provide a pair of tracks, a pair of cylindrical governor weights positioned for movement in said tracks, a continuous iiexible U-shaped band having a portion freely engaging the head portion of the plunger, Vsaid band having second portions extending through the openings in said guide members, said second portions encircling portions of the governor weights, and means connectingrthe second portion of said band to said guide member, said weights being adapted to roll laterally in said tracks with respect to said plunger and in response to varying speeds of rotation of said casing whereby'said plunger is y moved against the resilient pressure of said rehousing adapted to be connected to the drive,

` shaft of a high speed electric motor; means for controlling the speed of the motor comprising a tubular member axially .positioned Within the housing, a plunger positioned for axial reciprocation within said tubular member said plunger projecting outwardly from said tubular memberl upper end of said plunger, said band having por- Y tions extending through the openings in said guide members for substantially encircling portions of said governor weights, and means connecting the ends of said, band to said guide meinber, portions of said band being contained within said track, said weights being adapted to roll laterally within the tracks with respect to the plunger during rotation of said housing whereby said plunger'is moved ina second direction.

4. In a speed governor having a casing adapted to be connected tothe drive shaft of a high speed electric motor for rotation with the shaft; means for controlling the speed of the motor comprising a plunger positioned for reciprocation within thecasing, a resilient member engaging the plunger for normally urging the plunger in a first direction, said plunger including a head portion extending laterally with respect to the plunger, a guide member having portions disposed on opposite sides of the plunger, said portions each including an axially extending opening, a recess formed in each guide pgrtQn, Said silient member.

5. In a speed governor having a casing adapted to be connected to the drive shaft of a high speed electric motor for rotation with the shaft; means for controlling the speed of the motor comprising a plunger positioned for reciprocation Within the casing, a resilient member engaging the plunger for normally urging the plunger in a rst direction, a guide member having portions disposed on opposite sides of the plunger, said portions each including an axially extending opening, a recess formed in each guide portion, said recesses being in lateral alignment and extending laterally with respect to the plunger to provide a pair of tracks, a pair of cylindrical governor weights positioned for movement in said tracks, a continuous exible band having a portion engaging the plunger, said band having second portions extending through the openings in said guide member, said second portions substantially encircling the govenor weights, and means connecting the second portion of said band to said guide member, said weights being adapted to roll laterally in said tracks'with respect to said plunger and in response to varying speeds of ro*- tation of said casing whereby said plunger is moved against the resilientpressure of said resilient member.

WILLIAM HARSTICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Great Britain Hu..- June 12, 1880 

